Chapter 66: Didn't Disappoint the Transmigrator Club...

"Leaving Itogami Island? What do you mean?" Natsuki Minamiya fixed her stare on Shichen. For some reason, she felt a faint panic in her heart.

"Natsuki-chan, don't worry. I'm only going away for a while. I'll be back soon." Shichen said with a smile.

"I asked you what you mean!" Natsuki demanded sternly.

"Uh…" Shichen paused, his gaze turning gentle.

"Natsuki-chan… Are you reluctant to see me go?"

"Quit joking around!" Natsuki remained unmoved, her small face just as serious.

"All right, I mean that I have to leave Itogami Island for a while."

"Leave? Why?"

"Natsuki-chan, you've forgotten—I wasn't from here to begin with," Shichen reminded her with a smile.

"…?" Natsuki hesitated for a moment, suddenly recalling that Shichen's arrival had been illegal in the first place.

"Why so sudden?"

"Of course it's to go see my family. Natsuki-chan, I'm not some solitary wanderer, you know~"

"Your family… in the mainland of China?" Natsuki gently asked.

"No." Shichen shook his head.

"Hmm? You're not from China after all? You lied to me?"

"Not exactly… Let me just tell you honestly: I'm actually not from your world." Shichen decided to be frank.

"Now you're just talking nonsense." Natsuki looked at him in bewilderment.

"Natsuki-chan, you should realize: my appearance here back then wasn't the result of spatial teleportation."

"…" Natsuki fell silent.

Given that she controlled spatial magic, she was perfectly aware that Shichen's sudden appearance had nothing to do with spatial magic, coupled with that initial sense of him not belonging to this world at all.

Yet at the time, she simply had no other explanation.

Another world—she hadn't even considered that. But now, with Shichen suddenly mentioning it, she began to understand.

"Is what you're saying true?"

"I said I wouldn't lie to you, didn't I?" he replied.

"… You might as well have lied," Natsuki murmured softly.

"Heh heh~ So you really don't want me to leave, huh, Natsuki-chan." Shichen beamed happily.

"Hmph!" Natsuki gave a cold snort, folding her arms as she admitted outright, "You were the one who insisted on being my family, and I finally got used to that—so now you're leaving? What's that supposed to mean?"

She chose to believe his words; after all, this guy had no reason to deceive her. Plus, the fact he was somehow a 'Fifth Primogenitor'—which shouldn't even exist—along with having no normal demonic aura, an immune-to-magic constitution, and that extraordinary presence… He truly didn't feel like someone from this world.

Perhaps she was second-guessing with the benefit of hindsight, but indeed, a lot of things didn't match up if he were just a normal resident.

He also seemed to know a suspicious amount about this world, but for her, that wasn't something she had to chase down.

"It's just that I miss my family a bit. Don't worry, Natsuki-chan—I'll be back soon."

"Miss your family… And what does your leaving or returning have to do with me?" Natsuki asked testily, turning her face away in annoyance.

"Of course it concerns you." Shichen stepped forward, lowering his head until their eyes met.

"Aren't you also part of my family, Natsuki-chan?"

"…" All at once, Natsuki felt embarrassed, not daring to meet his eyes.

Luckily, the body she was using was only a projection; otherwise, her inner turmoil might have shown on her face.

"Natsuki-chan, would you let me hold you?" Shichen asked daringly, noticing she'd gone silent.

"What are you trying to do?" Natsuki took a step back, guardedly watching him.

"…That's so hurtful. We're about to be apart. Can't we have one hug?"

"What's there to hug? You know my situation perfectly well."

"It doesn't matter. Our feelings are more important." Shichen didn't mind in the least.

Natsuki's small face stayed impassive. "No, there aren't any special feelings here."

"…"

"So when are you leaving?" Natsuki switched the topic.

Even if she did feel regret, it wasn't enough to grieve over. It wasn't like it was life and death. Besides, she wasn't a child.

"Not just yet."

"Hmm?" Natsuki stared at him, perplexed.

Shichen smiled. "I plan on sticking with you for a while longer, Natsuki-chan."

"Stick with me for what?"

"Haven't you been busy lately? I want to help you out—and also let those people who are speculating realize their assumptions are correct."

"Are you sure?" Natsuki asked somberly. "If you do that, you won't be so free anymore."

"What's there to worry about?" Shichen winked at her mischievously. "I'll be leaving soon anyway."

"…So what do you expect me to do?"

"Isn't that great? This way you'll be thinking of me all the time."

"Screw you!"

The moment Natsuki uttered those words, she raised her fan to strike him, but Shichen stepped back, dodging.

"Natsuki-chan, getting hit is a form of affection."

"Affection my foot!"

Right when she spat those words, Natsuki vanished from her spot, reappearing behind Shichen in a flash to smack her fan down again.

Shichen was ready this time; just before the fan would land on him, it disappeared into thin air.

Natsuki immediately pursued him.

"Let me hit you once!"

"No way, I'm not a masochist."

"You said getting hit meant affection!"

"But you've got ulterior motives now!"

"Stop right there!"

"Never!"

Once again, the two began a game of cat-and-mouse. The roles were reversed this time. Probably only these two could use spatial magic so recklessly just to horse around.

…

The next day, Natsuki introduced Shichen as an Attack Mage officer. No formal identity checks, no examinations—he was admitted just like that.

Shichen didn't care what the higher-ups were thinking. Whether they recognized him or not, whether they were only giving face to Natsuki or planned to spy on him behind the scenes, or bribe him with courtesy—none of that mattered. He just wanted to tag along with Natsuki on her missions.

Attack Mages were a general term for magicians, espers, and other special-ability humans who fought demons.

Being an "Attack Mage officer" naturally involved capturing criminals among the demon populace.

Attack Mages were demons' biggest threat.

Because of the stalemate among the Three Primogenitors, humanity was able to peacefully coexist with demons, including humanity's greatest enemy—vampires.

Even so, there were always restless factions among demons who rejected a peaceful life and tried to stir up chaos. Humans, not wanting that peace ruined, had formed the Attack Mage unit.

The group most dissatisfied with the status quo was the "Black Death Emperor Front," a bunch of extremist terrorists who believed in beastmen supremacy.

They were the ones causing trouble recently.

Shichen found them annoying. They were messing about and making more work for Natsuki, interfering with his time together with her.

All the better—he could use this to temper himself.

He didn't want to someday find himself unable to bring down the hammer if needed, so this group was perfect for practice.

Attack Mages, after all, were permitted to hunt demon criminals.

Thus, for a time, Shichen traveled around with Natsuki, hunting down demon offenders. Mostly they tried to capture them alive—Natsuki wasn't one to kill if she didn't have to—but those who didn't know better ended up with no choice.

Shichen took the initiative in these cases, claiming he simply didn't want Natsuki's hands dirtied—when in truth, he wanted to test himself.

Perhaps it was because they were beastmen that on his first time killing, he had virtually no particular reaction. He remained calm, as if he'd simply done something trivial, like swatting a mosquito.

Maybe, after seeing so many stories in his past life, he'd readied himself for it. Possibly he was just thick-skinned.

At any rate, he felt no revulsion, so he hadn't disgraced the title of "transmigrator."

And so, early in June, Shichen suddenly received a message in his mind—from "her":

[Mission complete. Please promptly obtain the Divine Fragment from the target.]

[Acquisition method: one minute of skin contact.]

[One week from now, you will be forced to leave, headed for a new world to continue searching for Divine Fragments.]

~~~

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